Next Monday, November 20th, we will have at GreenUPorto – Center for Research in Sustainable Agrifood Production, as part of Semana da Ciência e Tecnologia 2023, the «GreenUPorto Open Lab» initiative taking place, which will include activities open to the General Public and, in particular, to young people and students (including university students), promoting direct contact with scientists and researchers in the Agri-food area, and «opening the doors» from our laboratories and greenhouses in Vairão to the community.

Participation is free, but subject to registration using the form: https://forms.gle/eGyYeYVNDN6WWjsp7

Date: November 20th, from 2pm
Location: GreenUPorto, Vairão campus, Vila do Conde (GPS coordinates 41.326254381911, -8.6744672553399)

Would you like to experience the life of an agronomist for a day? And what about the life of a soil scientist, or a plant biologist? And, while you’re at it, why not find out how a food science researcher works? Come visit GreenUPorto and interact closely with examples from all these scientists, on a tour of our laboratories and greenhouses, which will be open to the community on November 20th!

At GreenUPorto, scientists work daily in three main lines of investigation that cover the life of plants “from soil to plate“: Environmental Biology (including Environmental Risk Assessment and Soil Science), Plant Biology and Food Science. From each of these lines, visitors will be presented with some of the main daily activities and research objectives through real examples from our scientists who, every day, break the barriers of knowledge in Agricultural Sciences.

In each activity, visitors will be able to experience and obtain answers to the following questions:

1) What does an environmental risk assessment scientist do and, in particular, a soil microbiologist?
2) What does a plant scientist do and, in particular, a researcher into the fungi that plague our fruits and vegetables?
3) What does a food scientist do, and in particular, a researcher who works with edible insects?

At the end of your visit to GreenUPorto, you can contribute to a greener world by helping us complete our famous agro-ornamental green wall!

Soil / Environmental Sciences | 20 November 2-3pm
Agricultural Sciences Building (FCV2), Rua da Agrária, 747, 4485-646 Vairão, Portugal

What does an environmental risk assessment scientist and, in particular, a soil biologist do?
Soil has numerous important functions, such as food production and water storage and filtration. During these activities, you will be able to learn more about the life of a Soil Scientist, including laboratory activities analyzing microorganisms present in different types of soil (for example, agricultural soil and urban soil), and experience ecotoxicology work, understanding This is why terrestrial organisms, such as oligochaetes, are used to assess soil quality. You will also be able to learn about the diversity of organisms that live in the soil, understand their functions, and do small experiments with them.

More info: https://www.cienciaviva.pt/semanact/2023/eventos.php?accao=showactivities&id_activity=4653#evento

Plant Sciences / Agronomy: Plant Biology, Production and Post-harvest | 20 November 3-4pm
Agricultural Sciences Building (FCV2), Rua da Agrária, 747, 4485-646 Vairão, Portugal

What does a scientist who works with plants investigate? The works presented will focus on the theme of plant pathology and participants will be able to visit a greenhouse where field trials are taking place, learn more about sustainable ways of controlling diseases in crops and also participate in practical activities in the laboratory, contacting plants and fungi. Finally, we will play a game to determine who will have learned the most in this activity. We count on you!

More info: https://www.cienciaviva.pt/semanact/2023/eventos.php?accao=showactivities&id_activity=4656#evento

Food Science | 20 November 4-5pm
Agricultural Sciences Building (FCV2), Rua da Agrária, 747, 4485-646 Vairão, Portugal

What does a food scientist do, and in particular, a researcher who works on new sustainable foods like edible insects? The activities will include the entire process of developing new food products, including laboratory visualization of food processing and extraction methods, formulation of new products, simulation of consumer perception tests and carrying out sensory analysis tests with a tasting of innovative food products incorporating edible insects.

More info: https://www.cienciaviva.pt/semanact/2023/eventos.php?accao=showactivities&id_activity=4655#evento

Come and discover one of the most recognized Research Centers at the U.Porto and FCUP!
We’re counting on you!